milmoe



M. l. MILMGE.

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION min ocnzs. me.

1,315,739. Patented Sept. 9,1919.

f uam/3 UNITEI);STATE Simi OFFICE.

MICHAEL J. MILMOE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO F. B. REDINGTONCOMPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

HEE'LFEEDING unex-:mman

Original application led January 18, 1915, Serial No. 2,887.

Specication of Letters Patent.

1916. Serial No. 127,618.`

To all wlw/n, 'it may concern lle itv known that l. MicnauL J. MILMOE, acitizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of('ook and Stat/c of Illinols. have invented certain uew. and uset'ulImprovements in Shetet-ltetaling Mechanism. of which the following islaspecification.

This application is a division of my eopending application for patent.on automatic labeling machines. Serial No. 2,887, filed January 18.1915.

This invention relates to mechanism for feeding thin sheets of materialsuch as paper. and is illustrated in connection with the labeling`machine described and claimed in the application referred to above. The0bject ot' the invention is to provide a device of the character named.which shall be of improved construction and operation. The invention isexemplified in the combination and arrangement of parts s'howu in theaccompanying drawings. and described in the following specification, andit is more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. In thedrawings- Figure l is a fragmentary seetionalview ot' a portion of anautmuatie labeling machine showing a part 4et a feeding mechanismembodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view ot' a portion ot' the feedingmechanism showing the sla-et-carrier in the not of removing a sheet4from the. magazine.

Figs. Il and 4 are vertical .sectional views taken on planes at rightangles to one another ot' the suction-head comprising a part. ot' theinvention; and,

Figs. (i and 7 are details of the construction of the sheet-holdingmagazine.

In the drawings. the numeral 1 designates' the top of a table-likeframe-work carried by supporting members 2. Secured to the upper surfaceof the table top. by lag screws. is a magazine. bracket. 4, which hasintegrally fastened thereto. the bottom member 5 of the sheet-holdiugmagazine. Extending upwardly from the front. edge of the bottom luelnberis a wall (i, which consti tutes the front wall of the magazine. Therear wall 7 of the magazine is pivotally connected to the base member 5to swing outwardly about a pivotal een-ter H. The pivotal movement, ofthe wall 7 is limited by a stop' 9, and the wall is resiliently heldinwardly by a spring l0.l Secured to the npright edges of the walls 6and 7. are side. plates 12 and 13 respectively, which form guards forpreventing lateral movement of the sheets of paper 14,-01 othermaterial, held within the magazine. Projecting inwardly at the upperedges of the wallsI 6 and 7, are ledges 15 and 16 respectively. Theledge 16 preferably extends .across the entire width of the wall 7,while the ledge 15 is preferably merely a comparatively narrow fingerextending inwardly from the upper edge of thc wall 6 at, the centralportion thereof.

The bottom member 5 is provided with a central opening. through which anupright rod or bar 17 extends, the bar 17 carrying a plate 18 at itsupper end, which forms the supporting plate for the sheets 14 within themagazine. The Ibar 17 is free to move ni and down through the opening inthe. pate 5, and is normally pressed upwardly by a coil spring 19 whichsurrounds the bar, and which is supported at its lower end on a bracketmember 20 secured to the machine-frame. The upper end of the spring 19bears against a collar 21, adjustably fastened on the bar 17. A catch2Q. is ivoted to the member 5, and is resiliently he d in place by aAspring 23. The pivoted catch 22 is arranged to coperate with a fixedcatch 24 on the )late 18, to hold the plate and bar 17 in t eirlowermost position, when desired. It will be seen that the ring 1t)normally presses the stack of a icets 14 upwardly, so that the edges ofthe uppermost sheets in the stack are held against the overhangin ledge16. The projection 15 is spaced slightly above the upper surface of theSheets.

For the purpose of lifting the sheets 14 one at a time from themagazine, and for transferring these Sheets to any mechanism to whichthey are to be fed, a Suction-head or carrier designated generally bythe nnmeral 25 is provided. The construction of this suction-headwillbest be. understood by reference to Figs. 2. 3 and 4. A holloweasting 26 is prov1ded at its lower end with a Haring portion 27, to thelower surface of which a plate 28 is secured by screws 2S). The outersurface of the plate 28 is eovered by a layer of yielding frictonalmaterial 30. The covering 30 is preferably of rubber, or similarmaterial, while the plate 28 is preferably made of metal. A series ofperforations 31 extend through the plate 28 and the contact covering 36.The outer ends of the erforations 31 located at the front side d thesuction-head, as shown in Fig. 4, are provided with connecting grooves32 cut in the surface of the contact member 30.

The upper end of the suction-head, as shown in Fig. 4, has a pair ofthreaded openings 33 and 34 arranged to be connected with pipes 35 and36 respectively, (Fig. 2). The pipes 35 and 36 are connected respecutively with pneumatic suction and compres sion devices by any suitablemeans, not shown in the drawings, and the interior of the suction-head25 may be selectively oon-- nected with either of these devices by meansof a cone-shaped valve 37, held in its seat lo a spring 38. The valve 37is provided wit a rocker arm 39, which carries a cam roller 46, andwhich is normally held in position to connect the suction-head with thesuction pipe 35 by means of a spring 41. Below the valve 37, andextending laterally from the suction-head 25, is a hollow cylindricalprojection 42 which connects with the inten rior of the sucton-head, andin which a piston 43 is mounted to slide. The piston` 43 is normallypressed outwardly by a spring 44, and it carries a cam roller 45 atitsouter end. The end of the rojection 42 is covered by a plate 46,which oes not make airtight connection with the sliding extension whichcarries the roller 45. The piston 43 does however make air-ti htconnection with the interior of the cylin rical projection 42.

Extending around the suction-head, near the lower portion thereof, is aditch or groove 47 for the purpose of intercepting,r oil.J or otherliquid, which may run downwardly over the surface of the suction-head,thus prevent-ing the oil from coming into contact with the sheets thatare lifted by the head. The groove 47 communicates with collectionreceptacles 48 which receive the oil intercepted by the groove. Thereceptacles 48 may be provided with waste, or similar material, forabsorbing the oil. In order that oil may not drain downward] on theinside of the suction-head, a threa ed plug 49 is secured Within thehead, which carries a hollow housing 50, provided with openings 51,through which air may pass, but .which are so located that oil runningdown from above will not enter them. Passages 52, ro vided with ballvalves 53 are arrang to permit the oil to drain from the interior of thesuction-head 4into the receptacles 48.

The suction-head is moved by an arm 54, which is pivotally supported inany suitable manner, not shown in the drawings, and which carries aguide 56 secured thereto.,

matinee through which the pi es 35 and 36 are free to move longitudinaly. A collar 57 is secured to the pipes 35 and 36 to move therewith, andcarries a projecting stud 58 arranged to rest on a cam surface 59,secured to a pivoted arm 60. A link 61 is )ivotally secured to the guide56, and togct er with the arm 60, it imparts the necessary move ments tothe suction-head Any suitable mechanism, not shown, may be provided formoving the arm 60 and the link 61, the arm 60 being arranged to impartup and down motion to the suctionfhead, while the link 61 swings thesuction-head laterally. By combination of these two movements, anydesired motion may be imparted to the suction-head.

The mechanism as described is all driven by a main drive shaft 62, whichis provided with the requisite cams and connections for imparting themovements to the suctionhead. In addition to the cams which operate thehead, the shaft 62 is provided with a cam 63, which operates a bellcrank lever 64, having a cam roller 65 at one end, which bears a ainstthe cam 63, and having a pawl .66 at t e opposite end thereof. The pointof the pawl 66 is normally held outwardly by a coil spring 67, and asecond coil sprin 68 holds the cam roller 65 in contact wit the surfaceof the cam 63. A bar 69 is secured to the rod 17, and extends paralleltherewith. The bar 69 is provided with a series of ratchet teeth 70 inposition to be engaged by the pawl 66, when the bell crank lever 64 isoscillated by the cam 63. It will be seen that when the cam roller 65 isswung outwardly by the cam 63, the pawl 66 will engageone of the notchesin the bar 69, and force the rod i7 downwardly against the action of thespring 19. The shape of the cam 63 is such that for each revolution ofthe shaft 62, the 'bar 17 will be moved downwardly, and then vibrated upand down a number of times before it is returned to its uppermostposition.

As shown in Fig. 5, the plate 18 is curved upwardly at its lateraledges, giving the upper surface of the plate a somewhat concave ferm.The object of this is to assist the suction-l1ead 25 to lift but asingle sheet at a time from the top of the stack. 1When the suction-headis brought into Contact. with the upper sheet of lthe stack, this uppersheet will touch the suction-head only at its edges. and hence to belifted from the stack, it must be drawn upward] in the central portion.Since the sheet is held in a curved formation, it will resist to acertain extent this action of the suction-head, and only the sheetssubjected directly to the action of the head will be thus lifted, thecurve in the other sheets forming a kind of an arch to resist upwardmovement, and thus be separa-ted from the top sheet. This separation ofthe top sheet from those beneath it is further assisted by a pair ofspring pressed blades 71, which have knife edges 72 arranged to bearagainst the edges of the sheets 14, as shown in Figs. 1, 6 and 7.0bviously the surface of the plate 18 may be curved eitherl laterally orlongitudinally the eiiect being the same in either case. f the curvatureextends longitudinally, the ledge 16 will bear against the uppermostsheet cntirely across the end thereof, but if the curvature is in theother direction, it will bear on'lIy at the outer edges.

l he operation of the device is as fol owsz The sheets to be fed, areplaced in theV position in the magazine. As the shaft 62 is rotated, thesuction-head will be swung backwardly to a position over the magazine,

and then be lowered until it rests upon the upper sheet in the ma azine.It will be seen from Fig. 2,L that t e lower surface of the lifter doesnot rest squarely upon the u )per sheet, but touches it only at its rearge. When the lifter is in this position, a portion of the top sheet willbe drawn by suction into contact with the frictional surface formin thelower portion of the suction-hea and the weight of the head will forcethe stack downwardly a sui.-

cient amount to release the pressure between the suction-head is slidforwar l the uppermost sheet and the ledge 16. The' suction-head is thengiven a s ht'move ment forwardly, and will carry with it, the rear edgeof the uppermost sheet, drawing the edge from beneath the ledge 16. Thefact that the contact surface is covered with frictional material, suchas rubber, assists in this sliding movement of the sheet, and preventsthe suction-head from sliding over the surface of the sheet itself.During this for ward movement, the sheet buckles slightly, as shown inFig. 2, the front edge of the sheet remaining beneath the led e 15. Ason the surface of the stack and carries t e upper sheet with it, thereis a tendency for the lower sheets to move with the up r one. They areheld in place however by t e knife edges 72 which cut slightly into theedges of the sheets, and prevent forward movement of all of the sheets,except the uppermost one, which because of its close connection with thesuction-head, and because of the frictional contact surface, is carriedforwardly in spite of the knife edges 72, the edges of the sheet beingslightly mutilated. W en the rear edge of the uppermost sheet is movedfrom beneath the overhanging ledge 16, the suction-head is carriedupwardly b the arm 60, pullin the forward edge of t e sheet from beneatthe shoulder 15. This tums the edge of the sheet and separates it fromthose below in a manner similar to that in which a single card may beflipped 'from a pack by ones thumb. During this u ward movement, thereis a tendency to strip the sheet from the suctionhead, this tendencybeing greatest of course, at the front portion of the head. To overcomethis tendency, the grooves 32, leading` to the openings 31, are providedas previousfl1 explained. These grooves increase the e ective areaof thesuction device, and thus cause the sheet to' adhere more firmly at itsfront portion. Thegrooves also form a suction surface, which issubstantially continuous in the direction to which the grooves extend.If this were not true, as soon as the sheet 14 was disconnected from'onerow of holes, it would have no support between that row and the nextsucceeding row, and would tend to fall away from the'surface between thetwo rows, thus making it easier to strip the sheet from the entiresurface. When the sheet has been lifted clear of the magazine, the headis movedto carry the sheet upwardly and forwardly to rform any operationthat may be desirede In the device shown in the co-pending ap. plicationreferred to, the sheet is covered with mucila e and deposited upon anarticle to be labeleti'; the valve 37 being operated to admit compressedair into the suction-head to discharge the sheet when desired, and thepiston 43 acting under the influence of the pressure in the suction-headto position the cam roller 45 to control the suction-head relative tothe Vglue roller. These features are described more fully in theapplication 1referred to.

While the suction-head is being moved to carry the sheet to the positionwhere it is to be discharged, the bell crank lever 64 is oscillated bythe cam 63, and the pawl 66 is thus forced into en gement with one ofthe notches 70, and theiiir 17 thus forced downwardly against thetension of the spring 19. This moves the stack of sheets 14 so that theuppermost sheet is moved out of engagement with the ledgs 15 and 16, andany sheets which may ave been deranged by the suction-head during thelast operation, are permitted to drop back into their proper position inthe magazine. To assist in the positioning of the eranged sheets, thecam 63 is shaped so that the plate 18, with the stack of sheets thereon,is oscillatcd up and down a slight amount, while the stack is held inits depressed position, thus causing the sheets to be adjusted properbetween the walls and the magazine. fore the suction-head is returned toick up the next sheet, the rod 17 and the p ate 18 are freed from theaction of the pawl 66, so that the stack of sheets are returned to theirpm er position for.the next operation of the ueu tion-head.

I claim: y

l. In sheet feeding mechanism, a carrier ha ving an extendedsubstantially continuous surface composed of frictional material withspaced perforations therethrou the mouths of said perforetions beingistribated over said continuous surface and opening at the level of saidsurface so that substantially the entire surface of said frictionalmaterial intermediate said mouths will engage a sheet held against saidsurface, mechanism for drawing a sheet against said surface, and meansfor moving said fric tional surface in the direction of the plane of asheet to be fed and in contact therewith.

2. In sheet feeding mechanism, a suction head having an extendedsubstantially continuous lifting surface composed of frictional materialwith spaced perforations therethrough, the mouth of said perforationsbeing distributed overA said surface and opening therethrou h in theplane thereof so that substantial y the entire surface of saidfrictional material intermediate said mouths will engage a sheet heldagainst said surface, and means for moving said lifting surface in thedirection of the plane of a sheet to be fed and in contacttherewith.

3. In sheet feeding mechanism, means for holding a stack of sheets to befed, a carrier for removing sheets from said stack, said carrier havingan `extended substantially continuous lifting surface composed offrictional material with spaced perforations therethrough, the mouths ofsaid perform tions opening in alinement with the said continuous surfaceof said frictional mate rial so that said surface intermediate saidmouths will engage a sheet held against said surface, and means formoving said lifting surface parallel with the sheets in said, stach.

4. In sheet feeding mechanism, means for holding a plurality of sheetsto be fed in stack formation, a suction head havin an extendedsubstantially continuous litin surface composed of frictional materialwit spaced perforations therethrough, the mouths of said perforationsbeing distributed over said continuous surface and openin in alinementtherewith so that substantially the entire surface of said frictionalmaterial intermediate said mouths Will engage a sheet held against saidsurface, and means for moving said lifting surface into contact with theuppermost sheet in said stach and for movin said surface parallel withsaid sheet wb' e in contact therewith.

usiamo l. In sheet-feeding` mechanism, a ma eine for holding sheets tobe fed, means or removing sheets from the top of a pile in said magazineand means for ,lowering the sheets within said magazine and relatirethereto after a removlngoperation to adjust said sheets in saidmagazine.

ti. In sheet-:feeding mechanism, a holding device, means for removinsheets from the top of a pile in said ho ing device, and means forlowering and raising the sheets remaining in said holding device aplurality of times after a removing operation and prior to a subsequentremovin operation to adjust the position of said sieets in said holdingdevice.

7. In sheet-feeding mechanism, a magaaine having side members forholding a nlurality of sheets in stack formation, means for removingrthe uppermost sheets from said stach, one at a time, and means forlowering the sheets remaining in said magazine rclative to said sidemembers after a removing i operation to readjust the sheets in saidmagasine.

8e In sheet-feeding mechanism means for holding a plurality of sheets instuck formation including a support for said sheets, means for removingsaid sheets. one at a time, from the top of said stack, means forvibrating the support for said stack after each removing operation, andmeans for disconnecting said lowering means from said support to permitreturn of said stack to its uppermost position.

9. A sheet-holdin,` device comprising a stationary bottom member,stationary side members, and a pivoted side member resiliently held inclosed position and arranged to bear against the edges of the sheets insaid holder at one side of thel stack to hold said sheets in properalinement in said stack.

lil. A sheet-holding magazine comprising a stationary bottom member, astationary side member, a movable side member pivoted to said stationarybottom member and arranged to bear against the edges of the stack ofsheets in said magazine, resilient means for holding; said movable sidemember in closed position against the edges of said sheets, a movablebottom member, resilient means for pressing` said bottom memberupwardly, and means for contacting the sheets held in said magazine forlimiting the upward movement of said bot-tom member.

l1. In sheet feeding mechanism, means for holdin?l a supply of sheets,means for removing t e sheets one at a time from said supplly, means forfeeding the sheets for- Ward y, and means for retracting and advancingsaid feeding means a plurality of times after the removal of a sheetfrom said supply and prior to the removal of a subsequent sheettherefrom to rei-adjust said remaining sheets in seid sheet holdingmeans.

12. In sheet-feeding mechanism, a lioldiiiir device. means for removingsheets from said holding device, one at a time, means for retracting thesheets remainin in said holding device after each operation of theremoving means and for vibrating said sheets while in retracted positionto re-adjust any sheets displaced by the removing operation.

18. In shect-feeding mechanism, means comprising stationary side wallsfor holding a plurality of sheets in stack formation, means forremovingr the sheets, one at a time, from t-lie top of the stack, andmeans for retract-ing and advancing the stack within said side wallsafter the removal of a sheet from said stack and rior to the removal ofa subsequent sheet t ierefrom.

1l. In a device of the character described, means for holding aplurality of sheets in stack formation, means for contacting withtlieupper sheet of the stack near two 0f the edges thereof, a paper liftingdevice for sliding one edge of said upper sheet from under itscontactimer n'ieans and then raising said sheet from said stack toremove the other edge of said sheet from its contacting means.

15. In sheet-feeding mechanism, means for holding a plurality of sheetsIin stack formation, means for contacting with the uppermost sheet ofsaid stack near one edge thereof, and a paper lifter arranged to slidesaid sheet from beneath said contacting means and then lift said sheetbodily from said stack.

16. In a machine of the character described. a sheetholding magazine, apaper lifter for removing sheets, one at a time,

from said magazine and means for operating said lifter Vto cause it tofirst slide one edge of the sheet to be removed while the other edge isheld stationary and then lift* ing the sheet bodily.

17. In sheet-feeding mechanism, a magazine for holding a? plurality ofsheets in stack formation, a movable bottom for said magazine, means forresiliently ressing said bottom upwardly to lift saidp sheets, means forlimiting the upward movement of said bottom, a suction-head for removingthe top sheets, one at a time, from said mazine, said head beingarranged to engage t e uppermost sheet in said magazine with its liftingface at an angle to said sheet, and means for moving said head to imparta preliminary sliding movement to the sheet to be removed before it islifted from said magazine.

18. In sheet feeding mechanism, means` said stack of sheets near theedge thereof remaining portion of the suction head is raised slightlyfrom said sheets, there being suction openings in said head adjacentsaid contacting portion and other openings in said raised portion, andmeans oi' moving said suction head toward said abutment member while sopositioned to cause a sheet to buckle toward said last-mentionedopenings.

19. In sheet-feeding mechanism, means for holding a stack of sheets, asuctiondiead for removing the sheets, one at a time, from said holdingmeans, means for moving one edge of said suction-head into Contact withsaid stack of sheets, While the remaining portion of said suction-headis raised from said stack, means for sliding said suction-head laterallyalong the surface of said stack while in this osition, and means forlifting said siiction-liead bodily away from said stack.

20. In sheet-feeding mechanism, means for holding a stark of sheets,means arranged to overlie said sheets at two of the edges thereof and alifting device arranged to contact with a sheet near one of saidoverlying means and move in the direction of the plane of said sheet toslide said sheet from under said over-lying means and then lift itbodily, drawing it from under the other over-lying means.

21. In a machine of the class described, a device for holding aplurality of flattened articles in stack formation, means for separatingthe articles from others in said stack, one at a time, by slidingmotion, and spring pressed knife edges contacting with the edges of saidarticles to prevent more than one article to be slid by said removingmeans.

22. A device for feeding flattened articles, one at a time, from a stackcomprising means for separating the articles 'from others in said stack.a. sharpened .spring pressed blade arranged to contact wit the edges ofsaid articles and mechanism for movin said separating means transverselyof sai( blade during a separating operation.

23. A device for feeding flattened articles. one at a time, from a stackcomprising means for removingr said articles from the stack by slidingthe upper article, and a spring pressed knife edge adjacent one side ofsaid stack and arranged to bear against the edge of the other articlesof the stack to prevent sliding motion of the latter mentioned articles.

24. A device for feeding flattened articles comprising mea s for holding`a stack of articles, a siicti nliead adapted to` contact with the upperarticles of the stack near one edge thereof and slide said edge of saidarticles forwardly on `said stack, and a knife said surface beingprovided with a greater effective suction aiea than the other portionthereof.

26. In combination, means for holdin flattened articles to be lifted, asuction-hea for lifting said articles, means for movin said suction-headinto contact with sai articles at one side of said suction-head, saidsuction-head being provided with a greater effective suction area ,atthe side of said head awa from the contacting portion than on the si enear the contacting portion` 27. In sheet-feeding mechanism, asuctionhead comprising a member rovided with a lifting surface and aplura ity of opening therethrough, and means for producing a greatereffective suction area at one side of said lifting surface than at. theother.

28. In sheet-feeding mechanism, a suction head comprising a memberhaving a lifting surface, and means for producing a greater effectivesuction area at one side of said sur face than at. the other.

29. In sheet-feeding mechanism, a suctionhead comprising a memberhavinga lifting surface, and a plurality of openings therethrough, theopenings at one side of said member being enlarged at the liftingsurface while the openings at the other side of said member present asmaller suction area than said enlarged o enings.

30. In sheet-'teeding mechanism, a lifting head, a groove surroundingsaid head for the purpose of catching liquid. and a reseri oir in saidhead connected with said groore for retaining said liquid.

31. In sheet-feedingmechanisn'i, u hollow lifting head, a plug securedwithin said head having an opening therethrough, and en upstandingflange surrounding said opening, in position to intercept liquid flowingdownwardly in. said head to exclude said liquid from said o ening.

In sheebfee ing mechanism, a lfiollowk lifting head, a member forclosing the opening in said head, said member having a, pasagetherethrough, an opstanding flange surrounding said passage, a coverresting on the topI of said upstanding flange. and openings t rough saidopstanding flange.

3d. In sheet-feeding mechanism, u hollow lifting head, means forpreventing the dow of liquid from the upper to the lower portion of theinterior of said head, an opening through the wall of said head toconduct liquid from the interior to the exterior oit said head, andmeans for preventing the 55 tlow of air to the interior of said head.

34. In sheetfeeding mechanism, a lifting head, means for stopping theiiow of liquid downwardly on the exterior surface of said head, meansfor stopping the flow of liquid downwardly on the interior surface ofsaid head, and means for accommodating the liquid intercepted by saidstopping means.

35. A sheet-feeding mechanism, a'inagaeine having stationary sidemembers for holding a supply of sheets, means for removing the sheetsone at a time from the top of the supply' in said magazine, and meansfor readjusting the sheets in said supply after each removing operationwhile lowering the supply between said walls and relative thereto.

36. In sheet-feeding mechanism, means iior holding a supply of sheets, abottom plate for said holding means having its supporting surfaceconcave for bending said sheets upwardly at opposite edges, abutmentsfor the upwardly bentedges, and a suction head arranged to act directlyon the low portion of the uppermost sheet of said supply above the lowportion of said concave surface to lift said sheet from said surrly- 37.In sheet-feeding mechanism, a plate for supporting sheets having thesupporting surface thereof concave to bend opposite edges of said sheetsupwardly, abutment members for the upwardly bent edges of said sheets,and a suction head arranged to operate on the uppermost sheet of a stackheld by said plate at the central downwardly bent portion of said sheetand while said sheet is held in bent position by said plate and abutmentmembers.

38.- In sheet-feeding mechanism, means for supporting a suppl);v ofsheets, means for holding said sheets in bowed condition, and a suctionlift for removing said sheets. one at a time, from said supportingmeans, said suction lift being arranged to operate along substantiallythe entire length of a curve formed by a sheet to be lifted.

B9. In sheet-feeding mechanism, means .for supporting a supply of sheetswith the surface thereof bowed, and suction means for removing thesheets from said supply, said means being arranged to exert liftingforce over substantially the entirearea of a sheet to be lifted.

di). In sheetfeeding mechanism, means tor supporting a supply of sheetswith the central portions thereof bowed downwardly, and e suction devicearranged to exert a lifting force on said downwardly bent portion forliftingr said sheets, one at a time, from the to of said supply.

dll. ln sheet-feeding mechanism, means for holding a stach of sheets, asuction-head for removing said sheets, one at a time, from said holdingmeans, means for moving one edge of said S\u'tion-hcad into contact withsaid stack of sheets, while the remaining portion of said suction-headis raised from said stack. means for sliding said suction-head laterallyalong the surface of said stack. and means for separating saidsuction-head and stack.

42.111 shect-feedng mechanism, means for holding a stack of shectsrasuction-head for removing sheets, one at. a time, from said holdingmeans, means for moving said suction-head to hringone edve thereof intocontact with said sheets wiile the other edge is spaced therefrom, meansfor sliding said suctiondiead parallel with the surface of said sheetswlule in cont-act therewith, to cause said sheet to buckle upwardly intoengagement with other portions of the lift ing surface of said head, andmeans for separating said suction-head and stack.

43. A device for feeding flattened articles. one at a time. from a stackcomprising means for removing the articles from the st-ack by slidingthem along the surface thereof. and a sharpened blade for contact ingduring such sliding movement with the edges of the articles parallelwith the direction of sliding movement and for cutting into saidarticles at the edges thereof to resist said sliding movement.

44. A device for feeding flattened articles. one at a time, from astaf-lt compris ing a suction-head. means for moving said suction-heiniparallel with the surface of the stack and in contact therewith. andsharpened blades for contacting with said flattened articles at theedges thereof parallel with the direction of movement of saidsuction-head while said articles remain in stack formation.

45. A device for feeding flattened articles comprising means for holdinga stack of articles, a suction-head arranged to contact with the upperarticle of the stack near one edge thereof and slide said edge forwardlyupon said stack. and sharpened blades extending transversely of thelateral edges of said articles and arranged to contact with a lateralface of said stack to pre vent the sliding of other articles upon thestack.

46. In sheet-feeding mechanism, a suction-head comprising a memberhaving a flat lifting surface, a plurality of openings through saidsurface, and grooves in said surface communicating with said openin theends of said grooves being terminated Walls to form a pocket beneath thelev l of the lifting surface 0f said suction hea 47. A device forfeeding attened arti cles, one at a time, from a stack comprising asuction-head, having ,a fiat lifting surface arranged to contact alongone edge. thereof with said stack and having openings through saidsurface. and pockets in said surface communicating with said openingsand surrounded by walls the outer edges of which are Hush with Saidsurface.

48.1n sheet-feeding mechanism, a suction-head for lifting flattenedarticles from a stack. means for moving one edge of said suction headinto contact with said stack while the other edge is out. of contacttherewith, said suction-head having a plurality of openings through thecontacting surface thereof and having grooves in said surface extendingthrough said openings in a direction substantially at right angles tosaid contacting edge.

49. In sheet-feeding mechanism, means for holding a plurality of sheetsin stack formation, a retainer arranged to engage one edge of theoutermost sheet of said stack, resilient means for pressing said stacktoward said retainer to hold said outermost sheet in engagementtherewith, a lifter for said sheets` and means for moving said lifterinto contact with said outermost sheet to cause said lifter to ex'ertpressure thereon to relieve the pressure between said sheet and saidretainer and for subsequently shifting said lifter to move said sheetaway from said retainer.

50. In' sheet-feeding mechanism, means for holding a plurality of sheetsin stack formation. a suction head having an extended sheet engagingsurface with a plurality of suction openings extending therethrough anddistributed over said surface for removing the .sheets one at a timefrom said holding means. and mechanism for causing said suction head tocontact with the uppermost sheet of .said stack near one edge of saidslieet-cngaging surface while the remaining portion of said sheetengaging surface is raised slightly from said sheet and for moving saidhead in a direction parallel with the plane of said sheet while thuspositioned.

51. In sheet feeding mechanism, means for holding a plurality of sheetsin stack formation. retaining devices extending inwardly a slightdistance over opposite edges of the uppermost. sheet of said stack. asuction head for lifting the uppermost sheet from said stack, andmechanism for causing said suction head to contact with said sheetadjacent one of said retaining devices and for moving said suction headin the direction of the, plane of said sheet to slide the edge of saidsheet from beneath said retaining device. said mechanism heing arrangedto move said suction head upwardly and to lift said sheet bodily aftersaid sliding movement to draw the opposite edge of said sheet frombeneath the other retaining device.

52. In sheet feeding mechanism. means for holding a plurality of sheetsin stack formation, a suction head for lifting sheets from said stack,mechanism for moving said suction head into and out of engagement withsaid stack, said suction head having a groove extending around theperiphery thereof for intercepting oil or other liquid flowingdownwardly on the outer portion of said suction head, and a partitionWithin said suction head for intercepting oil or other liquid fiowingdownwardly on the interior of said suction head.

53. In sheet feeding mechanism, means for holding a plurality of sheetsin stack formation, a suction head for liftin sheets from said stack,mechanism for moving said suction head into and out of engagement withsaid stack, movin parts within said suction head for contro lin'g thepassage of air therethrough, said suction head being provided with achannel on the outer periphery thereof for intercepting oil or otherliquid flowing downwardly on the outer surface of said suction head fromsaid operating mechanism, and a partition 'Within said suction head `forintercepting oil dowing downwardly from said moving parte on nain,

the interior of said head, said partition hav-` ing openingstherethrough to permit passage of air through said suction head.

5l. In sheet feeding mechanism, a suction head for lifting sheets to befed, said suction head having an extended fiat sheet engaging memberwith a plurality of open ings therethough, a portion of said openingshein enlarged at their outer ends to form poc ets at the mouth of saidopenings toinorease the effective suction area of said openings.

55. In sheet feeding mechanism, a suction head for lifting sheets to befed, said suction head having a rubber covered plate forming a fiatlifting surface for en aging the sheets, said plate being provide with aplurality of openings extending therethrough, the outer ends of some ofsaid openings being enlarged to increase the efective suction-area ofthe portion of said plate in which said openings with enlarged mouthsare located;

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this s )ecification onthis 20th day of @ct/ober, A.. il), 1916.

MCHAEL .l MILMOE.

Witnesses:

Fern G. Bacone, G, d., Boonen..

